The US regulation FMVSS 208 defines a rollover as when a vehicle with no longitudinal velocity starts to roll over unaìded. However, in real-life accidents rollovers usually take place with some longitudinal velocity component. This results in very different loading conditions for the passenger compartment and windscreen frames. Rollover safety is particularly important for convertibles because of the high injury potential. Although this accident mechanism is relatively rare, realistic rollover testing of convertibles is nevertheless meaningful since the number of registered convertibles in Germany, for instance, is continually increasing.

TÜV Bayern has, therefore, developed a new procedure in which vehicles are rolled over with a specified longitudinal speed. This is made possible using the TÜV Bayern ECV Crash System, which controls the vehicle in driving along a special one-sided ramp.

This paper deals with a series of convertible rollover tests. The weak points discovered in the vehicles included the failure of a rollover bar and insufficient windscreen frame stiffness. Results from a sedan rollover test are shown for comparison.